Maternity Services

Mr. Baron
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many midwives who completed training in each year since 1999 subsequently took up a post in midwifery in the NHS; [126995](2) how many midwives

(a) were in training and (b) completed training in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [126996]

Mr. Hutton
Information on the number of midwives entering training each year since 1998–99 is shown in the table. Information on the number of midwives completing training and taking up posts in the national health service each year is not collected centrally.Since 1998–99 there has been an increase of 371, or 21 per cent., midwives entering training each year. In the same period, the number of midwives employed in the NHS has increased by 410 to 23,249.---------
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|Total  |
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|Diploma|
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|Degree |
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|Other  |
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The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) publishes an annual statistical report which includes information about the number of midwives registering  each year, a requirement for employment in the NHS. This data can be found on the NMC website at www.nmc-uk.org.uk.

Dr. Evan Harris
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the findings of the maternity and neonatal workforces group. [123475]

Dr. Ladyman
The report of the Maternity and Neonatal Workforce Group was published on the Department of Health website in January 2003. The report's findings have been fed into the work of the children's national service framework.